the GC dvds come with a flow chart of positions... no belt, no certificate. the belt, as it is being come to be known, is a GJJ "street" belt, and the piece of paper that comes along with it after a person earns it (i'll pause for everyone to finish laughing) is a certificate of authenticity of rank in GJJ, which serves quite a different purpose.

You say "i'll pause for everyone to finish laughing" however, in terms of GU, does it really matter if the belt came from them or if the student earned his belt from a "legit" school?

I would posit that it is the practitioner of the style that determines the effectiveness, and not where the style comes from.

Example, a man says "I trained under (let's say) Rickson Gracie himself! (very impressive). Second guy says "I trained through Gracie University" (to some sceptical). Then when rolling the Gracie University guy submits the Rickson Gracie guy say 2 out of 3 times. Does it then matter who they studied under or where they studied? Further, what is a certificate, but a piece of paper. True it could happen in reverse, but it is just an example.

The practitioner determines the effectiveness, not the style or where it is necessarily learned from. We all know there are crappy instructors out there, just look at the history of martial arts instruction.

The visual test the the Rener and Ryron use appears to be a good method, as they have not passed everyone, evidenced by the video they post of someone failing and commenting as to why. Watch it, its free.

I would posit that it is the practitioner of the style that determines the effectiveness, and not where the style comes from.

oh yes, i agree, although i hope someone who spends the time and money to train under Rickson would really dedicate themselves to learn. i just threw that "laughing" part for the people who don't take this method of testing seriously, and therefore don't think people would "earn" a belt.

I think more likely will be that someone will buy the videos, watch them throug one time. Put them on the shelf, and then start telling people they train in GJJ. Maybe roll in the back yard every couple of month then it turns into about once every 6 months.

In reallity, no it doesn't matter because you can tell what they are capable of on the mat.:beatdead:

I have the DVDs and the instruction and details in them is great. It's much better and easier to follow than a lot of the instructional DVDs I have purchased in the past, and I have some good ones including: William Chueng, Dan Inosanto, Erik Paulson and Eddie Bravo.

I think a lot of people are just turned off immediately because of the online testing thing.

But if you just look at the DVDs for what they are (a great instructional resource) than they are worth it.

the GC dvds come with a flow chart of positions... no belt, no certificate. the belt, as it is being come to be known, is a GJJ "street" belt, and the piece of paper that comes along with it after a person earns it (i'll pause for everyone to finish laughing) is a certificate of authenticity of rank in GJJ, which serves quite a different purpose.

You say "i'll pause for everyone to finish laughing" however, in terms of GU, does it really matter if the belt came from them or if the student earned his belt from a "legit" school?

I would posit that it is the practitioner of the style that determines the effectiveness, and not where the style comes from.

Example, a man says "I trained under (let's say) Rickson Gracie himself! (very impressive). Second guy says "I trained through Gracie University" (to some sceptical). Then when rolling the Gracie University guy submits the Rickson Gracie guy say 2 out of 3 times. Does it then matter who they studied under or where they studied? Further, what is a certificate, but a piece of paper. True it could happen in reverse, but it is just an example.

The practitioner determines the effectiveness, not the style or where it is necessarily learned from. We all know there are crappy instructors out there, just look at the history of martial arts instruction.

The visual test the the Rener and Ryron use appears to be a good method, as they have not passed everyone, evidenced by the video they post of someone failing and commenting as to why. Watch it, its free.

We mock what we don't understand or take the time to understand.

You bring up some really good points. I have the DVDs and like I said before the detail and the teaching points in the instruction is some of the best I have seen on DVDs. I have definitely learned more from the DVDs than I did at any of the MMA Schools I have trained at in NJ, which says as much about the DVDs as it does the quality of instructors who open schools. If I had the choice, I'd train at a top school like Renzo Gracie in NY or some of the schools out in CA. But since relocating right now isn't an option, I am using these to supplement my training. In other words, this isn't my only method of training, but it is a tool that I use to get better. :)

I heard something strange at my BJJ Gym today, I had found an ad for the GOBS (Gracie online belt ****) in a copy of black belt magazine, and I brought it up (this was before we were going to practice so we were just talking) and a fellow who had been bothered by it had emailed them, and they RESPONDED! saying that this is more intended as a supplement and that no belts will actually be given out, I also heard that he had told a contact that "it was just for money" and that they wouldn't really be promoting anyone just milking a bunch of lazy morons who try to learn Jitz off the internet already out of more cash